During an interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of the VPA (December 22, 1944 - 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the Whole-People Defense Festive Day (December 22, 1989 - 2024), the researcher affirmed the important role of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the struggle for national independence, initially against French colonialism and later against American imperialism.
    |
 |
|
Malaysian history and international politics researcher Enzo Sim Hong Jun from Penang Institute |
Looking back Vietnam’s historical process to gain national independence, Enzo said that President Ho Chi Minh made the crucial decision to establish the Vietnam Dissemination and Liberation Armed Team, the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army on December 22, 1944. The term "People's Army," chosen by President Ho Chi Minh, signifies a military "from the people and for the people."
According to the researcher, although President Ho Chi Minh did not witness the unification of Vietnam, his spirit and valuable lessons continued to live on, guiding the VPA in its fight against the U.S. imperialists.
He affirmed that the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh played key roles in the fight for Vietnam's independence.
Regarding the role and contributions of the VPA to humanitarian duties and U.N. peacekeeping missions, Enzo assessed the VPA plays an important role in restoring peace and order in some of the most unstable regions in the world, including Abyei, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, as well as in the U.N. Department of Peace Operations in New York.
Enzo highlighted the remarkable fact that over 20% of Vietnam's peacekeepers are women. The participation of women in U.N. peacekeeping activities is essential, as female soldiers can serve as role models and strong advocates for local women who have suffered from violence and conflict. Additionally, the presence of women allows peacekeeping operations to better engage with local communities for distributing U.N. humanitarian aid.
He emphasized that in the fragile peace context of these regions, as one of the main contributors to U.N. peacekeeping missions, Vietnam has become a model for the international community in contributing more to international humanitarian missions and serves as a testament to how a developing country can support less developed nations in "sowing seeds of peace.”
Source: VNA